Sewing-machine-needle threader.



G. S. WELLING.

SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE THREADER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. 1912.

1 60 61 1 Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

FIE 1 A TTOR/VE Y GREENWQLDT s. WELLING, or SIOUX CITY, IOW'A.

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Specification. of Letters Patent. Patented Mar.

nausea an new is, 1917. semi in. 143,392.

a To all whom it may c oacerh."

Be it known thatl, GREiiNWonnr S. WEL- LIno, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sioux City, in the county of To'odbury and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful, Improvements in SewingMachine-Needle Threaders, of Which the following is a specification. H p

' The present invention relates to mechani: cal nieans for threading needles, and Ifiore particularly sewing-machine needles.

Th; invention. has for its primary object the production of a device automatically actuated by a moving member ofa sewingmachine to' thread the needle thereof.

Another object of the invent-its; the production of a sewing-machine needle cinbodying an elementcarrying a needlethr eading member and reciprocated by and transversely of the needle-bar. p g p The invention has for its primaryobject theproduction of an improved sewing-machine needle threader embodying athreading arm pivoted to swingtovvard and from the needle and actuated by reciprocation of the needle bar.

Still another object of the invention is the product-ion of a needle-threader for sewingmachines instantly adjustable to operative and inoperative positions, and adapted When in the latter position to automatically reciprocate a threading hook through the needle eye. r

The invention has for a further object the production of a sewing-machine needlethreader simple and inexpensive in construction and thoroughly eflicient in operation.

With these and several other objects in vieyv, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and novel arrangement of parts, Will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application and in Which like characters of reference indicate corre spending parts throughout the several vie'vvs, ofwhichy Figure 1 is a front elevation of the head of a sewingmachine equipped'withthe pre} ferred' embodiment" of the-invention, parts bein out aivav arid the threader in ones;

. b g r tive position Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the threader in position to be reciprocated; 1

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, with the threader in inoperative position;

Fig. a is a horizontal section taken on the lin e 4- of Fig. 3.; v y

Fig. 5 IS an enlarged section of the threader, taken on the line 5-5, of F 4;,

thesivinging arm being cut away;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged inverted perspective view of the head of the threader arm;

Fig. is an enlarged end elevation of the threading fork; v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan of the same;

the head of a sewing machine, Within. and below ivhlchreciprocates the usual needlebar, 12, carrying the needlel3.

At the side and adjacent the lower endof the machine head is a shaft, 1e, pivoted to means, as lugs, 15, and having flattened ends which serve as bearings, 16, in which are journaled the shanks of screws, 17, threaded into the ends of the shaft, l t.

Extending freely through the shaft is depending rod, 18, having a head, 19, at its short horizontal rock su table supporting upper end which engages the shaft to sup-. head is preferablya knurled nut threaded on the rod and having" port the rod. The said transversegrooves, 20, in its face. The said grooves intersect each other at rlght angles,

(Fig. 6) and are curved to conform substan tially to the periphery of the shaft, to

permit thenut to be seated in either of two positions, on the shaft, eachat right angles to the other, and

threaded into the head prevent its turniiig from v Referring now, to the illustrations, 11,.is

either of said positions unless moved from the shaft.

The rod, 18, is encircled by a collar, 21, adjustably secured thereon by a set-screw, 22, and carrying a lateral arm, 23, the function of which will be later described. Between the Collar 21, or other suitable shoulder and the shaft, 14;, is interposed a compression-spring, 24, which holds the head of the rod yieldably seated.

The lower end of the rod is provided with an arm 25, disposed extending in the same radial plane as the arm, 23. The end of the arm, 25, is split vertically and incloses a threading hook, 26, the shank of which is clamped firmly within the split portion by means of a collar, 27, encircling said portion and secured thereon by a, set-screw, 28. The said end portion is spread forming a V'- shaped fork with the threading hook between the arms thereof. The forward fork arm is provided with a notch, 29, and the companion arm is split horizontally, the upper portion being bent upwardly to afford a retaining member, 30. At the point of convergence of the retaining arm, 30 and the arm below it, is a transverse notch 31, registering with the notch, 29. In operation, the needle is received in the for r and the hook penetrates the eye of the needle as shown in Fig. 9. The thread, 32, is then placed across the fork and in the notches and as the hook reciprocates a bight of the thread is drawn through the needle eye.

In holes, 33, in opposite sides of the machine head, is slidably mounted a plungerrod, 34, having a shoulder, 35, between which and the wall of the head is interposed compression-spring, 36, which tends to force the plunger toward the shaft, l t. The plunger is provided with a head, 37, en aging a cam, 38, carried by the shaft, 14L

The cam is provided with three flat faces, 39, 40 and 41. The face, l1 coacts with the plunger to hold the thread arm in normal, or inoperative position, in which position the rod, 18, is swung upwardly with the arm, 25, extended rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the threader is swung downwardly to its operative position, the plunger coacts with the cam face, 39, to force the arm, 25, toward the needle, the threader being held out of the path of the needle by engagement of the arm, 23, with the needle-bar. On the upward stroke of the needle-bar, the arm, 23, enters a hole, 42, in the needle bar, permitting the arm, 25, to move to the extremity of its stroke with the prongs or arms of the threader fork on opposite sides of the needle. The thread is then placed across the fork as previously stated. As the stroke of the needle-bar is continued, the threader is also carried upwardly, this being permitted by the spring, 21. The downward stroke of the needle-bar forces the arm 23, from the opening' 42, thereby withdrawing the threader with a bight of thread. The threader will then be swung to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2, in which position it is yield-ably held by engagement of the cam face, lO, with the plunger. The threader may then be swung upwardly to its inoperative position.

Obviously, the collar, 21, is adjustable to regulate the position of the arm, 23, so that when the latter enters the opening 42, the threading-hook will be alined with the eye of the needle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. A needle-threader for. a sewing-inachine including a moving part and a needle, comprising a threading element operable to penetrate the needle eye, governed by said part, and movable during its operation a distance with the needle during the latters stroke.

2. A needle-threader for a sewing-machine including its needlebar and needle, comprising a member mounted to move toward and from the needle, a threading ele ment on said member adapted 'to penetrate the needle-eye when said member is moved toward the needle, said member being also movable vertically, and means operable to move said members vertically with the needle, whereby the threading element may penetrate the needle eye while the needle is moving.

3. A needle-threader for a sewing machine including'its needle-bar and needle comprising a member mounted to move toward and from the needle, a threading element on said member adapted to penetrate the needle-eye when said member is moved toward the needle, said member being also movable vertically, and means governed by the needle-bar for moving said member vertically with the needle while the threading element is penetrating the needleeye.

a. A. needle-threadcr for a sewing ma; chine including its needle-bar and needle comprising a member mounted to move toward and from the needle, a threading element on said member adapted to penetrate the needle-eye when said member is moved toward the needle, said member being also movable vertically, and means governed by the needle-bar for moving said member toward and from the needle and vertically with the needle.

5. A needle -threader for a sewing machine including its head, needle, and a moving part, comprising a member adapted to be mounted on the head to move toward and from the needle, a threading element adapted to penetrate the needle-eye when said member is moved towardthe needle, said member being also movable vertically, and

igaemerra means controlled by said part for moving saadimember vertically with theneedle: when the threading element penetrates the needleeye.

prising an arm swinging transversely to the needle and provided with a threading element adapted to penetrate the needle eye, yieldable means operable; to swing said ar m toward theneedle, means controlled by the needle bar for holding the arm from the needleand means controlled" by the needle bar for releasing the latter means.

7'. A needle-threader'for ase'wingmach-lne including its needle-bar and needle, comprising'a member yieldably impelled towardthe needle, a threading hookth'ereon to pen etrate the needleeve, and means controlled by: the'needle bar foralternately forcing'th'e said member from the needlebar and re leasing said member, whereby the hook is 9. A needle threader for a sewing-machine including a head needle-bar and needle, comprising a rodadapted-to bepivotally mounted on the side of the head and swing in a vertical plane toward and irom the needle-bar, said rod having a lower lateral arm provided with'a threading" element to, penetrate the eye of the needle, yieldable means iinpelling said rod toward the needlebar, and a second lateralarm carried-by said rod and engageable with the needle-bar to hold said element fronr the needle, the

needle-bar having a recess positioned to receive said second arm to permit movement of the rod towardthe needle-bar when the needle-eye is alinedwith said element.

10. A- needle-threader for a sewing-ma chine including a head, needle-bar and needle, comprising arod adapted to be pivotally mounted on the-side of the headand swing in a vertical plane toward and from the needle-bar, said rod having a lower lateral arm provided with a threading element to penetrate the eye ofthe needle, yieldable' means impelling said rodtoward the needle bar, and a second lateral:armonsaid-rod adjust-ablelongitudinally thereof and on gageable with 1 the 1 needle 'bar to hold said 6. A needlethreader for a sewing-machine including ll'lS needle bar and needle cominga recess positionedto receive said second arm to permit movement of the rodtoward the-needle-b'ar when the needle-eye isalined with said element.

11; A; needle-threader for a sewing machine including its needle bar and needle, comprising a member movable toward and from theneedle, a threading hook thereon to penetrate the needleeye, said-member being yieldable' upwardly, and means controlled by the needle-bar for moving the said membertowardand from the needle and coincidentally forcing the member upwardly with the needle. 7

12. The combination with a sewing-machine including its head, needle bar and needle, of a horizontal rock shaft pivotally mounted on thes'ide of the head, a rod extending freely therethrough and having a lateral arm disposed toward the needle, a threading element carried bysaid arm to penetrate the needle eye, means controlled by reciprocation ofthe needle-bar for rocking said shaft and a head onthe upper'end of said rod adapted to engage the shaft to support therod and prevent turning thereof.

13. The combination with a sewingona chine including its head, needlebar and" needle, of a threader including a horizontal rock-shaft pivotally mounted on' the side of the head, a rod freely extending there through, a lateral arm carried by said rod disposed toward the needle and having a threading element to penetrate the eye of theneedle, ahead on the end of said rod to engage the shaft to support the rod, yieldable means impelling saidrod toward the needle barand a second arm of said rodengageablewith the needle bar to hold the threading element from the'needle, the needle bar havinga'recess positioned to ad mit said-second arm when the needle eye is alined with the threading element during the upward stroke of the needle-bar.

14. The combination with a sewing-inachine including its head, needle-bar andcomprising a needle, of a needle threader horizontal rock shaft 31votally mounted on the sideot' thehead, a rod 'freely extending threading element during the upward stroke of-tne' needldbar.

said second arm when the needle eye is allned with the 15. The combination with a sewing-machine including its head, needle-bar and needle, of a horizontal rock-shaft pivotally mounted on the side of the head, a rod extending laterally and freely therethrough, a lateral arm on said rod, a threading element carried thereby to penetrate the needle-eye, means for holding the head of the rod in yieldable engagement with the shaft, the head of the rod and the shaft being mutually engageable to hold the rod against turning from either of two positions except by disengagement of the head of therod from the shaft, each of said positions being at right angles to the other, yieldable means impelling the rod toward the needle bar and a second arm on the rod engageable with the needle-bar to holdthe threading element from the needle, the needle-bar being recessed to receive said second arm when the needle eye is alined with the threading ele- Ironent during the upward stroke of the needle- 16. The combination with a sewing-machine including its head, needle-bar and needle, of a needle threader including a horizontal rock-shaft pivotally mounted on the side of the head, a cam carried by the shaft, a rod depending from the shaft, a lateral arm on the rod disposed toward the needle bar, a threading element carried by the arm to penetrate the needle eye, a yieldable plunger mounted in the head to co-act with the cam and rock shaft to impel the rod toward the needle bar and a second arm on the rod engageable with the needle-bar to hold the threading element from the needle, the needle-bar being recessed to receive said second arm when the needle eye is alined with the threading element during the upward stroke of the needle-bar.

17. The combination with a sewing machine including its head, needle bar and needle, of a needle threader comprising a horizontal rock shaft mounted on the side of the head, a cam mounted on said shaft, a rod depending from said shaft, an arm on the rod extending toward the needle-bar, a threading element carried by the arm to penetrate the needle-eye, a yieldable plunger mounted in the head, the cam having a face engageable with the plunger to force the rod toward the needle-bar and a second arm on the rod engageable with the needle bar to hold the threading element from the needle, the needlebar being recessed to receive said second arm when the needle eye is alined with the threading element during the upward stroke of the needle bar, the rod being adapted to be swung to substantially an inverted position and the cam having a face engageable with the plunger to hold the rod in said inverted position.

18. The combination with a sewing machine including its head, needle-bar and needle, of a needlethreader comprising a horizontal rock-shaft pivotally mounted on the side of the head, a cam mounted on the rock-shaft, a yieldable plunger mounted in the head, a rod extending freely laterally through said shaft, a head on'the end of the rod to engage the shaft and provided with a groove conforming to the shape of the shaft to prevent turning of the rod without disengagement of the head thereof from the shaft, a shoulder on the rod on the opposite side of the shaft, yieldable means interposed between the shaft and said shoulder, an arm on the rod directed toward the needle-bar, a threading element carried thereby to penetrate the needle-eye, the cam having a face engageable with the plunger to impel the rod toward the needle-bar and a second arm on the rod engageable with the needle-bar to hold the threading element from the needle, the needle-bar being recessed to receive said second arm when the needle eye is alined with the threading element during the upward stroke of the needle-bar.

19. A needle-threader for a sewing machine including its head, and needle, comprising a cam-shaft adapted to be mounted on the side of the head, an arm carried by the cam-shaft and adapted to be swung upwardly adjacent the headand downwardly, a threading element carried by the arm to penetrate the needle eye, and yieldable means engageable with the cam to impel the arm toward the needle when the arm is swung downwardly.

20. A needle-threader for a-sewing machine including its head, and needle, comprising a cam-shaft adapted to be mounted on the side of the head, an arm carried by the cam-shaft and adapted to be swung upwardly adjacent the head and downwardly, a threading element carried by the arm to penetrate the needle eye, and yieldable means engageable with the cam to impel the arm toward the needle when the arm is swung downwardly and prevent retrograde of the arm when swung upchine including its head and needle, corn-V prising a cam-shaft adapted to be mounted on the head, an arm carried by the camshaft and adapted to be swung upwardly adjacent the head, and downwardly, a threading element carried by'the arm to penetrate the needle-eye, and a plunger adapted to be yieldably mounted in the head to engage the cam to impel the arm toward the needle.

22. A needle-threader for a sewing machine including its needle-bar and needle, comprising a member yieldably impelled toward the needle, a threading element carried thereby to penetrate the needle-eye and an arm, on said member engageable with the needle-bar to hold the member from the Tree dle, the needle bar having a recess to receive the arm to permit the member to be moved toward the needle.

23. A needle-threader for a sewing-machine including a needle-bar member and a needle, comprising a member yieldably impelled toward the needle, a threading element thereon to penetrate the needle-eye,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the and an arm onone of said members engageable with the other member to hold said second member from the needle, the unarmed member having a recess to receive the arm to permit the said second member to be moved toward the needle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of January, 1917. GREENWOLDT S. "WELLING.

"Commissioner of Eatente,

Washington, D. G. 

